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Welcome to SAVE

This site is currently undergoing a major makeover, and as such will be perhaps a little unstable while the heavy work is being completed.

SAVE is a non-profit organization that organized and incorporated in 1973 “to promote a better quality of life in Saugus through environmental concern and action”. Since that time, we’ve had an eventful history and achieved many fine results. If you’re more interested in what’s happening now, check out our sample newsletter or newsletter archive. You may also find our publications interesting, or may enjoy attending our annual Prankers Pond Day.

What are we trying to SAVE?

Saugus has a rich variety that is well worth preserving. Of course Saugus has been named a “1998 Tree City” by the National Arbor Day Foundation (in order to receive this honor the Town had to meet four requirements: it had to have a Tree Committee, a Tree Care By-law, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an annual Arbor Day observance — our former Town Manager Steve Angelo said in response to the notification “Trees make a world of difference in our community”), but Saugus’ good qualities go beyond the trees. Following we’ll note just a few of the many resources in town.

No one questions the importance of the Saugus River in the history of the Town of Saugus; this river made the settling of the town practical in the early 1600s and provided the electricity for early American industry. Today the river (and its numerous tributaries including Hawkes River, Penny’s Brook, etc.) remain picturesque in addition to providing an environment for numerous fish, waterfowl, river otters, and other animals.

Saugus has an abundance of native plant and animal life. Trees including oaks, maples, chestnuts, and all manner of evergreens define our forests, and flowers such as rhododendrons and ladyslippers provide native color. Animals such as racoons, foxes, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, bats, skunks, pheasants, wild turkeys, hawks, crows, and even coyote inhabit our forests.

Saugus has both typical fresh water marshes (some examples of which can be found in Breakheart Forest) and atypical salt water marshes (notably Rumney Marsh). Note that while a portion of Rumney Marsh is set up as Rumney Marsh Reservation and the bulk of Breakheart Forest is set up as Breakheart Reservation and are thus currently protected, it is not true that either of these areas are protected in their entirety.

What are our Priorities?

The support of preservation and protection of all natural resources, particularly our wetlands, through enforcement of state & local laws.